Surround Sound Speaker Placement

[Nicksteroonie]

Hi everyone, I need some expert help please.

I just got a new Onkyo surround sound system for my birthday tomorrow. I want to set it up properly this time seeing as though I am replacing an old Sony system that was never set up 100%.

We have a tv room with an odd layout so I need some advice.

Below is a very rudimentary diagram of our tv room. As you can see we have one couch on the left of the room and one at the rear right of the room with the tv in the center at the front.

I am trying to figure out where best the rear surround speakers should go.

The right hand side is not a problem, as I can mount the speaker either 90 degrees to the couch facing the viewer. The left hand side is more of a problem due to the doorway.

Would it work if I mount both speakers at ceiling height in the back left and right corners of the room at 110 degrees? Or is ceiling height (1.9m) too high?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

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If the rectangular shape of the room is as you've drawn, the ideal would be to put the TV on the right hand wall, with the two couches the left hand side, but I'm guessing that may not be possible.

The ideal placement of the surround speakers is as follows:

• High on the walls, above head height
• Facing 90 degrees directly across the room (really)
• Slightly behind the seating (should never be next to or in front)
• Both the same distance from the TV, not skew

If you can't do alll of the above, see how close you can get to this arrangement. Furnishings, bookshelves etc are going to affect the sound much more than the placement alone, but it's a start. Don't worry too much that seats are not perfectly placed, or even at the side. People's ears generally sort out the sound, as long as the speakers are spaced properly.

 

[Nicksteroonie]

Thanks so much for your response. Let me give it a bash!

 

[MR.C]

I didn't see the setup ( reading it on my BB. If its about the setup of your room, cannot help now but if the Onkyo has auto setup of the sound (most probably should), you won't have a problem tweaking the sound volumes of the speakers. Run the auto-calibration under setup and you can do minor corrections to perfect it.

 

[Sensorei]

Dont all new Onkyo receivers/amps come with auto calibration mics?

 

[Sensorei]

Nicksteroonie, I just ordered the same Onkyo HT-S5405 system today. How are you finding yours so far and did you run into problems?

 

[McGuywer]

You could always temporary place the speakers there and test?
My speakers is just behind the couch head high. It has made a huge difference placing the speakers behind the couch.